Editor's Notebook

By ART CULLEN

Starting out, I should say that I thank my lucky stars that I was born at Buena Vista County Hospital at the hands of old Doc Mailliard on May 10, 1957, to a loving and responsible pair of parents in the breadbasket of America. The timing was such that I was able to come of age just as we were fleeing Saigon, so I did not get drafted. I was thankful even at 17 because I knew then I would not look good in uniform.

By ART CULLEN

Fat Canada geese sunned themselves Friday on the leaf-dappled lawn banking to Lake Laverne on the campus of Iowa State University. Bodies in cardinal and gold whizzed past every which way, in and out of the Memorial Union and all over everywhere.

By ART CULLEN

A couple weeks ago we prattled on about what makes Iowa unique. Then we did some research and discovered that part of it might be right. Turns out that our attitudes are shaped by the early settlers to this day. Even the way we speak is determined by the dominant culture of a century past, the researchers say.

By ART CULLEN

Guns boom over the lake. Geese fly south against the gray top. Pheasants scare out of the corn in the great dust-up closing another dry season. The lake is down. Docks are in. Ghouls ring the doorbell and the clocks fall back.

By ART CULLEN

We can stand touchin’ noses

For a week at a time

And never see eye-to-eye.

But we’ll give you our shirt

Another lamb for slaughter at King’s hand  

By ART CULLEN

The morning after, President Obama last week urged Congress to resolve three issues before the end of the year: reach a budget deal for the first time in three years, pass comprehensive immigration reform and get a farm bill written.

By ART CULLEN

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice created a bit of news Friday in clearing up a question at the William Siebens American Heritage Lecture at Buena Vista University.

She was not in Iowa to launch a presidential campaign.

The only poll that matters 13 months from now will result in King prevailing

By ART CULLEN

By ART CULLEN

Storm Lake attorney Willis Hamilton is questioning whether the Iowa Attorney General’s Office is dragging its feet on the criminal prosecution or civil commitment of a man who allegedly raped Hamilton’s client at a nursing home in Pomeroy.

By ART CULLEN

The year was 1933. Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany and dissolved Parliament. US troops left Nicaragua. FDR survived an assassination attempt. Prohibition ended. A bank holiday was declared at the peak of the Great Depression.

And Chuck Grassley was born in Butler County, Iowa.